Tennis Balls in the Dryer!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I am not sure if this discussion qualifies as being scientific, but since I had this talk one time with F, I thought this would be a good place to discuss this topic.  One time on DK when someone talked about using dryer sheets and having problems with their dog getting a hold of them, I commented that I had heard you could use tennis balls in the dryer as a dryer sheet substitute.  Well, of course, F asked me immediately how that worked and I had to explain that I had no idea and had heard the idea on the Bonnie Hunt Show and since I loved her and her show I was sure it was the God's honest truth. This wasn't good enough for F and I tried to Google it to see how it worked, but couldn't come up with much.

Well, more data is in to support my theory.  I just purchased a down coat from Land's End and on the label for the washing instructions, it clearly states, "Do not use Fabric Softener.  Tumble dry low with a clean tennis ball."  If Land's End AND Bonnie Hunt are not good enough for F, I am not sure what else I can do, but I would be interested in knowing if anyone knows how a tennis ball works in the dryer?

Does anybody know how this works??

[F, Calla & Luca]

This is what "Wise Geek" had to say:

Touted as a "green," or environmentally friendly, tool, dryer balls are plastic balls that are tossed into a clothes dryer with wet laundry. While studies have been inconclusive in both positive and negative results on the effectiveness of the product, these unique balls have been shown to slightly reduce drying time with some loads, and they do prevent down-filled articles from balling up. When choosing the best dryer balls for your laundry, look for a reusable, hard plastic, hypoallergenic product. Tennis balls and other smooth-surfaced balls are less effective, but tend to batter the clothing fibers less than the harder balls. Select brightly colored balls for easy detection in the laundry load, but avoid balls with added perfumes, coatings or other ingredients that can break down under the extreme heat of the clothes dryer.

Some people love them and others think dryer balls are a hyped up hoax. Dryer balls are one of the latest laundry accessories, designed to shorten dryer time and eliminate static cling from clothing. They are typically 3 inches (7.6 cm) in diameter, with small nubs that surround the ball. Some people have attempted to use tennis balls as an economical replacement. While tennis balls certainly mix light clothing in the drying machine, they lack the tiny nubs that provide more airflow and beat the laundry.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I knew this was scientific. I just knew it :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

Hey, next time you do the research kiddo.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

This is precisely why I posted it in the scientific group. So someone else could figure it out :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

Why do I feel like the witch who got shoved into the oven? Good thing I'm not a witch. I forgot what she was doing, checking the temperature, showing Hansel and Gretel how to do whatever?

Just looked this up. And this is for kids?

"She prepares the oven for Hansel, but decides she is hungry enough to eat Gretel, too. She coaxes Gretel to the open oven and prods her to lean over in front of it to see if the fire is hot enough. Gretel, sensing the witch's intent, pretends she does not understand what she means. Infuriated, the witch demonstrates, and Gretel instantly shoves the witch into the oven, slams and bolts the door shut, leaving "The ungodly witch to be burned to ashes", the witch screaming in pain until she dies."

[Leslie and Halas]

In this case, it would probably be just an oven full of tennis balls.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Some of those "fairy tales" are very gruesome. Those Grimm brothers lived up to their name.

[Sheila & Finnley]

Hmmm F. It sounds like you know that story just a little to well. A very vivid description.....

Bahahahaha

[Sheila & Finnley]

YES, I did see that you "looked" it up too, but you were so pasionate in the retell ! :)

[Sheila & Finnley]

This does NOT sound Scientific to me Laurie ! Talking about tools, unique balls, smooth surfaced balls, vs. the kind that have nubs vs. the ones that lack nubs, not to mention the ones that smell nice.

Wrong, wrong, wrong ! :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

We are a clean thinking group , after all this is a laundry discussion what could be cleaner : )

[Sheila & Finnley]

You are right F. a clean discussion about laundry ! I stand corrected